COE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Events in October
The College of Education (COE) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is hosting several events in October for members of the University to increase discussion and engagement on critical issues.
Panel Discussion, “Being an Anti-Racist Educator” | Oct. 15 at 9:30 a.m.
On Thursday, October 15 at 9:30 a.m., the Committee is hosting a virtual panel discussion on “Being an Anti-Racist Educator.” Panelists include Chelda Smith Kondo, Ph.D., Amee Adkins, Ph.D., Jemelleh Nurse Coes, Ph.D., and David Lewis, M.S.
Chelda Smith is an associate professor of elementary education at Georgia Southern where she has been a part of the College of Education since 2014. Smith was instrumental in redesigning the Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education degree to provide a fully online delivery format with a consistent theme of cultures and communities, and she serves as the director of the degree program. Smith’s research interests and scholarship center culturally relevant pedagogy including the intersections of race, culture and gender as well as preparation of teacher candidates for diverse student populations. Smith was also recently named the first-ever recipient of the COE’s Commitment to Diversity Award.
Adkins serves as the chair of the Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education. A Double Eagle alumna, Adkins studied German, history and international studies before earning a Master of Education at Georgia Southern. She completed a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A former professor at Illinois State University for 20 years, Adkins returned home to Georgia Southern College of Education in 2017. Adkins specializes in sociology of education, educational policy, equity, and social justice.
A Georgia Southern Double Eagle, Coes earned a bachelor’s in special education and master’s in teaching and learning from the College of Education. While teaching special education in Bulloch County, Coes was named the recipient of the 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year by the Department of Education and served as a board member for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Practice in 2018 from the University of Georgia, and serves as a clinical instructor at the University. She is also a public speaker and consultant for NaviCation, LLC.
David Lewis is a scholar athlete who graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and player on the football team. He started his career in the non-profit sector working with young men in under-resourced communities to assist with academic and coaching as well as personal mentorship. Lewis then joined Teach for America and became an eighth grade science teacher and football coach. After years of service in K-12 schools as a classroom teacher; diversity, equity and inclusion facilitator; instructional coach; and dean of students, Lewis is now the Freshman Academy Principal at Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville, Tenn. Lewis holds two Master of Education degrees, one in instructional practice and the other in educational leadership.
No registration is required. To join the webinar, use the following link: https://georgiasouthern.zoom.us/j/93202585431?pwd=TkhERFJWREJqMytzaTZDWU9tYjB0UT09
Or enter the webinar identification: 932 0258 5431, and passcode: 290497.
Community and Conversation Series:
Discussion on “The Kids are All Right” | Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.
The purpose of the Community and Conversation Series is to provide an informal venue for College and University members to learn together. The sessions are discussion-based and feature a different diversity topic and resource each month.
On Tuesday, October 20 at 1 p.m., the Georgia Southern community is invited to discuss an episode from NPR’s podcast, “Code Switch.” The episode, titled “The Kids are All Right,” is a part of NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge, a special series that asks students what they would like to talk about and share. “The Kids are All Right” discusses how adults struggle with discussing race, yet students seem to be able to openly discuss and express their thoughts on racial issues. The episode features the voices of middle and high school students who created their own podcast as a part of the Student Podcast Challenge. Two thousand students responded to the challenge and many of them focused on the pivotal question, “Who am I?.”
To listen to the episode, visit https://www.npr.org/2020/09/08/910836728/the-kids-are-all-right.
During the discussion on Oct. 20, attendees will share their thoughts on the episode and the central theme of environmental racism.
No registration is required to attend. View the podcast episode prior to the discussion, and join us at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89585058823?pwd=VzVxcUdDT3dHRTNEL1NydkNLQjByUT09
NOBA Inclusive Excellence Conversations | Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
The Office of Alumni Relations at Georgia Southern University is hosting a series entitled Network Black Alumni Inclusive Excellence Conversations. First up in the series will be several College of Education representatives from alumni to current faculty.
Alumni Dennis Carpenter, Ed.D. (BSEd, ‘96; EdS, ‘03, EdD, ‘09) and Dominique Quarles, Ph.D. (MEd, ‘11) and COE Professor of Educational Research, Meca Williams-Johnson, Ph.D., will be joined by Georgia Southern alumna Melissa Shrivers, Ph.D. (BS, ‘96) to host a panel discussion on “Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion in Education.”
The webinar, taking place Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. will be moderated by the University’s Director of Multicultural Affairs, Takeshia Brown.
Georgia Southern alumni are invited to attend, and asked to register at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alumni/NOBAConversations. Invitations with event links via Zoom will be emailed to registered attendees.